Quirky, fun, sexy and completely out-there! Hair and Make-up designers who have used their inherent good taste, edgy, competitive training and their “seen-it-ness” to truly give shape to this beauty ensemble “fat mu.”
Their mu-metre is always tipping the scales on fun and fashion forward appeal since the mu-pair Natasha (Nat for short) and Virginia (Virg) guarantee that mundane won’t work and give their extra to make films, fashion and all other activities hugely customized and relevant.
Struck by little quirks in people, is how the mu-pair found their name. “A young English actor named Tat said ‘Fat Mu’, and Virginia and I just knew this was going to be our name since it embodies us and all that we do. It’s meant to be fun and individual, all the way,” according to Natasha.
Natasha was drawn to Britain’s innate style sensibilities and flew to London from Mumbai in 2000, when around the same time Virginia wanted more of colourful India and came trooping to Mumbai. The fat-mus’ would eventually meet in 2004, through common friends. It was then that Natasha Nischol and Virginia Holmes’s love for products, hair, skin and ‘doing people up’ would allow them to discover that they would be sharing the dream of “creating something fantastic with make-up in India.”
Mumbai has been their milieu, and the city’s energies matched with their elite professional experience really fired up offerings of make-up services of an international standard for – Film and Television, Fashion and Trends, Fringe and Theatre. With films like Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, Zoya Akhtar’s Luck by Chance and ‘Zindagi na Milegi Dobara’, they brought in a new trend in the way “cinematic” make-up has been merged with real-life look. Their make-up style lent in the film Paa pushed the envelope on film make-up in India with the use of prosthetics in which fat-mu is specialist. They have also done big ticket editorial shoots for Vogue, GQ, Reebok, Tommy Hilfiger and the Discovery Channel.
Fixing Frieda Pinto's scars on the sets of Slumdog Millionaire - with Natasha. Image Courtesy - Fat MU
As if being completely caught up in high-end shoots for big banners and labels wasn’t enough, the mu-ladies are conducting these terrific workshops focusing on different themes like “finding a signature style”, “sex and the city”, “the art of flawless skin” – for extremely well priced sessions and with all tools provided! Their venue is their Pro Academy Studio in Bandra, and these workshops are for professional as well as non-professional make-up mavens. “We love pushing the boundaries of make-up design by introducing and exploring new techniques and products to our clients and students signing up for these fun work-shops.” You can check out these sessions on Fat Mu World .
Their main source of inspiration has been fed from their backgrounds. Virginia says, “My Family and my ancestors were people who have followed their dreams and passions.” Virginia came to India, drawn to Mumbai’s multi-culturalism and then Lakshya, with Hrithik Roshan, was to become her first independent Bollywood gig, after which there was no turning back. Her inspiration has always been the timeless Coco Chanel, “What a woman!”
A Fat-Mu Pro Academy Workshop in action. Image Courtesy - Fat Mu
As for Natasha, “My family and all creative people and their art forms.” Navin Nischol of Sawan Bhadon and Khosla ka Ghosla fame is her father; she is Shekhar Kapur’s niece and the unique Dev Anand’s grand-niece – clearly Natasha comes from a family that has a long history of taste, superior cinema and the arts. Natasha has worked on International Projects like Phantom of the Opera and Four Feathers under the guidance of her mentor Jenny Shircore, who won the Academy for Best Make-up for her work in “Elizabeth.”
They believe that staying committed to what they do, helps them in getting better at their craft. “We’re learning to never get complacent and to always strive to do better; keep learning and growing.” Along with red lipstick, that the pair swears is the most timeless piece of make-up, they unequivocally agree that, “oil blotting sheets have been the best innovations for us. Just perfect for this weather and of-course, cotton buds, a make-up artist’s best friend.”
Pushing the edge in make-up with Fat Mu
Indians and Global Make-up trends
According to Natasha, “It really depends on the individual, if they are open to it, most looks can be adapted. Especially since in India people look different from different parts of the country and so one can’t generalize, but trends can be adapted to suit personas, features and tones.” Virginia adds, “Indians are more open to experimentation and realizing that it all just doesn’t begin and end with Kajal anymore; though most of our clientele does however love to ask for smoky eyes and concealer for dark circles.”
Innovation and Experimentation
I think we’re getting there, but we need people to change mindsets and respect make-up; treating it as an art form. This will help them understand that make-up is not just limited to lipstick and eye-shadows and when make-up and art collides, make-up artists truly become ARTISTS!”
Touching up Dev Patel's make-up on the sets of Slumdog Millionaire. Image Courtesy - Fat MU
Products
We work with a wide variety of products and are constantly sourcing from India and our travels abroad. To name a few we work with MAC, Ben Nye, Kryolan, Screenface, Inglot, Make up forever and more. This would include professional products specifically made for screen and stage as well as high street products for the everyday woman. The textures of these products vary as well.
We choose these on the basis of pigments, blendability, and strength of colour, variety of colour and textures and of course the look and feel of the product on the skin. We watch out for key factors like versatility, textures, safety – as a rule!
Skin
Different kinds of skin and types need special and different attention. People vary in tones, types of skin etc and so the products vary accordingly too. For example: ageing skin is usually drier skin, and so care would be taken to use products that are creamier and more moisturizing; oil free make-up and more powder based make-up would be used on oily skins and for people with pigmentation, camouflage make-up would be used with the right colours ( colour correction) to even out the skin tone.
Staying Inspired
By constantly learning, watching, reading and keeping an eye out for what’s happening in the world around us, and of course by experimenting and trying new things.
Get in touch with the Fat- Mus’ Natasha and Virginia for a consultation, styling or if you want to join their workshops.
FAT MU ACADEMY, Gazebo House, Hill ROad, Bandra West, Mumbai 400050
Phone: +91 9920753846
Email: fatmuadmin@gmail.com
Website: www.fatmu.com, www.fatmu.tumblr.com, www.facebook.com/fatmuworld, www.youtube.com/fatmupro
